The Draft Development Strategy for 2020-2025 of the LSGs Union was discussed

On March 9, 2020, a discussion was held on the draft Development strategy for the LSG Union for 2020-2025, organized by the LSG Union jointly with the “Public Service Improvement” Project funded by the Swiss government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by Helvetas and Development Policy Institute.

The mechanism of interaction between the state and LSG bodies that is widely used in the world through their legitimate representative of interests - municipal associations is also used in the Kyrgyz Republic. The LSG Union is the body that protects interests of municipalities in our country. The LSG Union has an almost 20-year history of work and in different years has been a successful partner of the state in the development of LSGs. During this period, certain results were achieved, in particular, the status of the LSG Union and municipal associations as legitimate representatives of the interests of LSG bodies was established in the legislation.

Currently, the LSG Union, together with development partners, is taking steps to strengthen its potential to meet the challenges of fully representing and protecting the interests of local self-governments at the national and local levels.

The efforts of all participants in the discussion are directed at further development of the LSG Union, as well as the formation of the LSG Union as a full-fledged participant and speaker of the LSG opinion, since the presence of a legitimate, efficiently functioning association of municipalities is one of the tools aimed at developing local self-governance in the country.

The event was attended by members of the Directorate of the LSG Union, representatives of SALSGIR, USAID «Successful Aimak» project, Development Policy Institute, “Voice of citizens and accountability of LSG bodies: the budget process” project and “Public Service Improvement” project.

At the meeting, the results of the analysis of the implementation of the LSG Union Program for 2017-2020 were presented, work was carried out to analyze the current situation, achievements, existing problems and resources.

Director of the LSG Union Omurbek Almanbetov emphasized that the Union is faced with the task of developing a high-quality development strategy for the LSG Union for 2020-2025 that will be presented for approval at the upcoming General Meeting. The new document should become a compass, directing the LSG Union to further development.

As a result of the discussion, priority development directions were identified that should be included in the Development strategy of the LSG Union. The working group has begun finalizing the draft strategy.